The Development Department is dedicated to growing contributed revenue to support fulfillment of Seattle Rep’s mission and vision. In addition to supporting the funding of a growing annual operating budget, Seattle Rep is currently in the first of a three-year, $15.8M capacity-building and sustainability campaign. This position is part of a team of fundraisers whose efforts support the organization’s quest to position “theater at the heart of public life” and Seattle Rep as the preeminent theater in the Pacific Northwest.
The Major Gifts Officer is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors who currently do or have the potential to contribute $5,000 or more annually, graduating donors to higher levels by connecting the donors to their passions. They will develop and implement strategies for moves management, ensuring maximum engagement and support from each donor in their portfolio to meet financial goals tracked monthly, quarterly and yearly.
The Major Gift Officer carries a portfolio of high-level donors, demanding a self-motivated, action-oriented strategic thinker who possesses strong project management skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, computer proficiency, and keen attention to detail.
Typical duties include:
Strategize to maximize individual, contributed revenue on a sustainable basis
- Ability to understand and articulate organization’s long-range plans, strategy and how philanthropy can fuel the achievement of goals
- Works with the Director of Development, Individual Giving Director, members of the Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership (when necessary and appropriate) to create and coordinate the stewardship and solicitation plans for a portfolio of existing and potential major donors including donor ask, follow-up, stewardship, and involvement programs
- Works with Individual Giving team to research and identify prospects for special program or project underwriting, as well as campaign participation
- Coordinates with the Individual Giving team to support Gala and other special event efforts, including but not limited to seeding Raise-the-Paddle giving
Utilize internal systems to track donor activities, communications, and other information to effectively steward donors’ relationships with the theater long-term
- Updates plans and plan steps as needed to accurately track work with individual donors
- Engages with donors to ensure proper benefits delivery, and ticketing support on a case-by-case basis
- Processes donors’ individual ticketing requests in coordination with the Development Team and the Patron Services Office.
Deepen the connection between a portfolio of donors and Seattle Rep in a personalized, tangible, and sustainable way
- Connects personally and professionally with donors building and developing their relationship with the theater to support the intentions and philanthropic desires of each individual, while balancing the needs of the organization
- Represents the Theater at donor events, receptions and other special occasions
- Attends productions of and represents the Theater, including shows, education and outreach events, beyond specific donor-centered gatherings
Cultivate donors and potential donor relationships “where they are” – even when outside Seattle Rep or typical working hours
- Create and implement strategies to meet annual contributed revenue goals and to set a foundation for long-term organizational investment by mid-level and major donors
- Prepares for and participates in face-to-face (in person and virtual) solicitations with specific emphasis on a portfolio major donors (approx. 100-200)
- Meets weekly and monthly donor contact goals, as determined by standard fundraising practices and the objectives of the Development team
- Researches and Qualifies portfolio donors for participation in additional opportunities (campaign, planned giving, etc.) and works with related to staff to solicit and secure
Support department- and company-wide development efforts, as a collaborative, contributing, and positive participant, setting an example for the rest of the organization.
- Attends all-staff meetings, team meetings and meetings of the Board Committees as appropriate and necessary and provides staff support for the Committee’s activities related to major gifts when needed
- Helps to host cultivation and stewardship events as assigned and appropriate
Serve as an essential contributor to Seattle Rep’s culture and success
- Add constructively to the collaborative and collegial health of the organization
- Add actively and constructively to the equity, diversity and inclusion work of the organization, including attending all-staff training sessions
- Engage with and strive to embody Seattle Rep’s mission, vision, and values in all aspects of work
- Help create a culture of philanthropy among staff, Board members, and donors